SMCPS to launch girls flag football with Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour support
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Summary
The board heard plans April 8 to launch girls flag football in fall 2026 with equipment, uniforms and coach training from the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour; the Ravens will provide $5,000 per school and training clinics if MPSSAA sanctions the sport later this month.
St. Mary's County Public Schools staff told the board April 8 that the district will launch girls flag football next fall with material and training support from the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour.
Athletics staff said the Ravens will provide $5,000 per school (the presentation cited $5,000 per school with a $15,000 total check to cover three high schools), supply equipment and sponsor professional development for coaches; Under Armour will provide uniforms (home and away jerseys and shorts). The district expects the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) board of control to vote to sanction girls flag football at its meeting in late April; staff said more than the required number of schools statewide have expressed interest.
Staff described a 12‑day engagement window beginning June 1 for coach development, an open clinic for enrolled girls after the training, an August 12 start date for tryouts and a regular weekly game schedule to mirror existing fall sport calendars. The Ravens offered to host training and to bring an open clinic and the district described local fees covered by sponsorships to reduce startup costs for schools.
Board members praised the partnership and said the sport will expand opportunities for female student athletes and help with Title IX compliance and participation access.
